MA Translation Studies

Program Overview

The University of Birmingham's MA Translation Studies program is a career-ready degree that equips students with industry-standard skills in translation, technology, and theory. Taught by experienced professionals, the program provides practical experience in specialized translation and prepares graduates for careers as translators, project managers, and in other fields. Graduates benefit from the program's strong industry connections and excellent reputation in Modern Languages.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA Translation Studies program at the University of Birmingham is a flexible and industry-ready postgraduate degree designed to develop students' careers as professional translators. It is offered by one of the world's top 100 Modern Languages departments. The program aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the growing global Language Services industry. The program covers most of the competences required by professional translators as published by the European Master’s in Translation network. It includes practical translation experience in the student's chosen language pair(s), training in state-of-the-art translation technology, and the opportunity to study another foreign language.

Outline:

Students learn key concepts and skills like client interaction, information mining, translation strategies, use of corpora and parallel texts, and revising/editing/quality assurance. They are introduced to tools such as general IT resources, online dictionaries, search engines, termbases, aligned texts, and corpus tools.

• Translation Technology: This module provides hands-on experience with technologies applied to translation study and practice.
Students learn to use tools commonly required by employers, such as translation memory and terminology management tools, and critically assess the technological requirements for different translation projects. They gain a sophisticated understanding of how translation tools work and their impact on translation as a discipline and practice.
• Theoretical and Analytical Skills: This module introduces significant translation theories and their application to translation practice.
It also examines the importance of pragmatic, socio-cultural, and ethical considerations in informing translation decisions. It focuses on translating texts for specialized audiences in areas like business, law, and science, as well as creative texts from areas like literature, advertising, and tourism. Students examine key concepts and challenges associated with each text type and are introduced to tools such as desktop publishing, corpora, editing and quality assurance tools, and HTML handling.

Optional Modules:

• Multimodal Translation: This module highlights the roles translators play in promoting access to audiovisual content through services and activities like audio description, captioning, and fan subtitling.
Students study monomodal and multimodal text types and authentic contexts in which they are translated/meditated, such as in the arts and heritage sector and publishing. They evaluate the current provision of descriptive and subtitling services and the policies underpinning them, understanding the constraints involved in responding to diverse audiences. They also discover the creative and educational potential of multimodal translation through discussions of innovation within its fields.
• Project Management: This module introduces students to the world of language services project managers, whose primary role is to ensure effective and efficient project management.
Students gain a deep insight into all aspects of project management, from communication to customer service, technology to finance, and develop the skills needed to become project managers in the language services industry. They critically reflect on the key characteristics of an efficient project manager. This module is delivered in collaboration with the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), ensuring materials are designed by industry experts from leading language services.
• Professional Development (Translation/Interpreting): This module emphasizes professional development, aligning with the European Master’s in Translation network's competence #26: Continuously self-evaluate, update, and develop competences.
Taught sessions deepen students' understanding of the translation industry, supporting them in understanding how to market themselves, set their rates, interact with clients, and so on. It also provides space for students to self-evaluate and update and develop their competences based on their future career plans. The portfolio-based assessment allows students to showcase activities undertaken in preparation for their working lives (e.g., freelance commissions, work experience placements, study visits, learning software/technology, setting up online presence, learning business skills, attending talks or training).
• Contemporary Translation Theory: This module considers the problems faced by translators from a theoretical perspective.
It examines current theoretical thinking in Translation Studies, including cultural theories, sociological theories, and political approaches. The module emphasizes the role and position of translation (and translators) in processes of identity construction, language/cultural planning, and the spread of political and religious ideologies. Advanced modules are offered in French, German, and Spanish only.

Final Project:

In addition to taught modules, students complete a 15,000-word project, which can take one of three forms:

• Traditional written dissertation: A substantial piece of independent research totaling 15,000 words.
They reflect on issues such as target audience and function, using a range of translation resources. They also write a 7,500-word commentary on the text. Students have the opportunity to seek support from partners in the Association of Translation Companies to design their translation project relevant to current professional challenges in the translation industry.

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the module. Common methods include:

• Reflective commentary: Students reflect on their translation process and choices, analyzing their work and justifying their decisions.
• Critical report: This assessment method is used in modules like "Translation Technology," where students critically analyze and evaluate the technologies used in translation.
• Paper analyzing a source text: Students analyze a source text and justify the approach they would take to translating it.
This is used in modules like "Theoretical and Analytical Skills."
• Reflective or practical portfolio: This method is used in modules like "Multimodal Translation" and "Project Management," allowing students to showcase their work and reflect on their learning.
• Professional portfolio: This assessment method is used in the "Professional Development (Translation/Interpreting)" module, where students showcase activities undertaken in preparation for their working lives.
• 4,000-word essay: This is the assessment method for the "Contemporary Translation Theory" module.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical translation exercises.
• Faculty: The program is taught by experienced and qualified academics with expertise in translation studies and the translation industry.
• Unique approaches: The program emphasizes practical skills development, incorporating training in state-of-the-art translation technology and providing opportunities for students to work in small groups with tutors.

Careers:

Graduates of the MA in Translation Studies pursue a variety of careers, including:

• In-house translators: Working for major language service providers or organizations with translation needs.
• Project managers: Managing translation projects for language service providers or organizations.
• Freelance translators: Setting up their own translation companies and working independently.
• Specialists in various domains: Focusing on specific areas like legal, literary, or technical translation.
The program provides excellent preparation for a career in translation, with graduates securing competitive internships at organizations like the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the European Union Directorate-General for Translation in Brussels, and SDL Trados in the UK.

Other:

• Access to specialist software: The program provides access to specialist software, including translation memory tools, corpus and text analysis tools, and post-editing tools.
• Links with industry: The program maintains strong links with the translation industry, hosting talks on "The Translation Profession" with speakers from various areas of the industry, including employers, freelancers, publishers, and representatives of national and international organizations.
These links provide mentoring and internship opportunities.
• Excellent reputation: The University of Birmingham is ranked as one of the world's top 100 institutions to study Modern Languages.
• Facilities: The Department of Modern Languages provides access to facilities that allow students to develop a sophisticated knowledge of how computer-aided translation tools work.
• Employability: The program equips graduates with a wide range of skills and attributes vital for their future careers, including analytical skills, information retrieval, communication skills, IT skills, group interaction, time management, and research skills.

UK: £10,530 full-time; £5,265 part-time International: £23,310 full-time

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.